Relating to the issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of permits to authorize the diversion of state water from the Gulf of Mexico or a bay or arm of the Gulf of Mexico for desalination and use for industrial purposes.

HB 5341 establishes a permitting process for industrial facilities seeking to divert Gulf of Mexico or bay water for desalination. It requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits only if projects avoid sensitive habitats like oyster reefs and implement standards to protect marine life from intake systems. The bill applies only to new permit applications submitted on or after September 1, 2025, while existing applications follow prior rules. The commission must adopt implementing rules by December 1, 2026.